Dublin Penny Journal

A Guide to the Giants' CausewaySource: The Dublin Penny Journal, Vol. 2, Supplement: A Guide to the Giants' Causeway(1834), pp. ix-xviPublished by: Dublin Penny JournalStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/30004125 .

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A GUIDE TO

THE GIANTS' CAUSEWAY, BEING A

* uppf trmcnt TO TIHE SECOND VOLUME OF THE

DUBLIN PENNY .JOURNAL.

GLENARM CASTLE.

Having in a recent number of our Journal, when de-

scribing the beauties of the county of Wicklow, the Dar-

gle, the Waterfall, the Devil's Glen, the Meeting of the

Waters, &c., promised in some future Journal to conduct the reader along the Antrim coast-lest any p)urchaser of the present volume might su)l)pos cwe had failed in re-

deeming our pledge, we determined on giving, in a Sup-

plementary Number, with the Title and Index to the Vo-

lume, a brief though faithful Guide to the Giants' Cause-

way, illustrated from accurate sketches, by Nichol, of se- veral of the most striking views to be met with in the

i route from Belfast to that stup)endous atid extrlordinay

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A GUIDE TO THE GIANTS' CAUSEWAY.

work of nature. That nothing can exceed in grandeur and boldness the scenery which occasionally bursts on the view of the traveller along the entire of this line, has been generally admitted by all who have travelled it. The road is hilly in the extreme, but it presents one continued scene of fine, bold, picturesque, maritime landscape ; the rocks in some places rising into precipitous clills, jetting headlands, noble promontories, and again, sloping down into beautiful bays and quiet harbours; the prospect to the right being one continued sea-vicv, with the Scottish coast, the Isle of Arran, and other lesser islands, iln the distance ;--that to the left pleasingly diversified with hill and valley-here a spot well cultivated, and occupied with comfortable cottages-and this again, succeeded by a barren mountain, with scarcely a cabin, even of the most miserable description, to show that it is inhabited by beings of the human kind-the entire line di- vided into nearly equal distances, which lie close along the coast, and which may be thus laid down-- about ten miles from Belfast is the ancient town of Carrickfergus ; beyond this, about eleven miles, the town of Larne ; twelve three quarters farther on, Glenarm; twelve three quarters more, Cushendall; fifteen and a quarter, Ballycastle; and thence to the Causeway, twelve three quarter miles ; in all seventy-five miles (English measure) from Belfast. Of the inhabitanits along the coast it may be sufficientto say, that although in general very superstitious, they are a well conducted, harmless people, rather well informed, intelligent, and obliging to strangers. 0

GLENARMI CASTLE.

As the entire line of coast from the town of Belfast to the plane of the Causeway, does not lpresent a more pic- turesque object than the Castle of Glenarm 'with its sur- rounding scenery, we have chosen it as the frontispiece for -Tur volume. In approaching the little town or village, which gives its title to the castle, the road will be found very hilly, and difficult of access ; but the summit once gained, the inland scene immediately changes to one of a most interesting kind--the beautiful little village of Glenarm, containing nearly two hundred neat, whitened cottages, appears, romantically situated by the shore, in a deep ravine or sequestered glen, being' closed in on either side by lofty hills, and washed by the silver waters of a mountain stream; on the opposite bank of which, in a commanding situation, stands the ancient castle, which for many years was the residence of the Antriu fLa- mily. In another direction, a finely wooded glen is observed, leading to the little Deer Park, a place of sin- gular construction, and well deserving.the attention of the curious traveller. It is bounded at one side by the sea, whose waters have hollowed it into .caves and arch- ways-and at the other by a natural wall 'of solid basalt, rising two hundred feet high, which is as perpendicular and regular as the fortifications of a city, and presents a more impassable barrier than could possibly be raised by the hands of man. From this point there is an exceed- ingly fine prospect of the coast and surrounding country. -The castle is a stately, ancient pile, still bearin;g in its appearance something of the character of a ba.- ronial castle of the fifteenth century. The approach to it is by a lofty barbican, standing on the'northern ex- tremity of the bridge. Passing through this, a long ter- race, overhanging the river, and confined on the opposite side by a lofty, eilbattled curtain-wall, leads through an avenue of ancient lime-trees, to the principal front of the building ; the appearance of which, from this approach, is very impressive. Lofty towers, terminated, with cupola's and vanes, occupy the angles of the building; the para- pets are crowned with gables, decorated with carved pin- nacles, and exhibiting various heraldic ornaments.- The demesne is well wooded, and rather extensiv

' Inn

the cemetery connected with the church are the ruins

of an ancient monastery of Franciscan friars ; but they are not of such a description as to afford matter for investigation to any traveller.

FROM GLEN',RMl TO CUSIIENDALL.

f-om Glenarm to Cushendall, a distance of thirteen miles, is a most interesting drive. Quitting the formier

village, there is a fine view of tile slmore and coast, as far as Garron Point, distant aloullt ive nmiles. Passing Straid- cayle, a small fishing village but a short way from Glen- arni, the widely-extended valley of Glencyle presents itself -and not far from this the village of Cairnlough.

Although the land along"

the ientire line from Glenarm to Cushendall, is poor and (with a few exceptions) badly cultivate.d, yet the poorer classes do not aplpear to be suffering under that extreme wretchedness which is visible in soine inmore fertile districts of the country.

Frona Cairnlough to Druminasole, and thencec to Garron Point, nothing can exceed the romantic beauty and v'ariety of the scenery. On the one side of an ele- vated hill, in the nmidst of a beautiful and extensive planta- tion, the mansion-house of Alexander Turnley, Esq., attracts the notice of the traveller ; a short distance from this, a neat, and rather fiucififl school-house, erected by that gentleman, makes its appearance ; and a little way firther on, the ruins of a small ancient chapel: while oil the opposite side of the road is seen the lodge of Knapan, romantically situated amid a grove of trees; and again, bfit a short distance from this, and in the immediate vici- nity of Garron Point, on an acute, promuinent headland, clevated nicarly three hundred feet above the sea-shore, on which it stands, is the rock of Dunmaul, on the summit of which are the remains of an ancient fort, having various entreechments. This may be easily gained froni the land side, and from it tlhere is a grand and extensive

prospect.":v From this point also the traveller will perceive that

the scenrery so peculiar to the Cam-seway coast begins more fully to develope itself. The various strata of whichll the entire line of coast is composed, may now readily be traced, even by the most inexperie mied in such matters.

As our limits will not peronit us to give a regular or minute description of miany things well worthy of obser- vation, in travelling frorm this to the Causeway, we would merely observe, in a gcneral way, that along the entire coast, of the sublime and stupendous, the wonderful and the grand, the tourist will tfind no deficieincy ; and while there can be no question that the plane of the Causeway itself presents one of the most curious and ex- traordinary objects that can possibly be conceived, the varied view which meets the eye, while passing along the coast, would by many be considered as possessing much more to interest and attract admiration, than even in the strnmture of the pillared pavement itself. The. tra- veller mIust now,however, push forward Ialong the coast,pass- ing through the hamlet of Waterfoot, the villages of Cush- endall, Cusheadun, and the small town of Ballycastle.

FRO31 CUSHIENDALL TO r,.LLYCASTLIE-TUItNLEY'S ROAD- CLOUGII-I-STOOXAN.

After passing Garron Point, the tourist had formerlv to proceed by a road, called the

FoarmLI Path,

whichl fr'o the extreme rapidity of the descent, was nea rly impassable by carriages. This has sonme time since been reme- died by Francis Turnley, Esq,, to whose patriotismo and liberality the traveller is indebted for au excellent road, cut at great expense and with much labour, out of the side of the mountain, along the edge of the coast-here and there immense masses of limestone beimig left in de- tached and threatening attitudes, which present an a]m- pearance quite in keeping with the general character of the entire scene. A little to the right, on the shore, an extraordinaryfigureis seen, called

Cloulh-i-Stookan, - also

formed of a huge limestone rock, and at one period suip- posed. to be the most northcrn point of Ireland.

FAIRIIEAD AND CARRIC-A-IREDE.

To the stupendous Promontory of Benmore, or Fair- head, as it is moore generally called, whicli lies between three and four miles froon 1allycastle, and which is the most mm-jestic headland to be seen aloing the entire line.

S'C" Oral history states, that c in olden titme' vil t(e rclnts of Ireland were paid at this place, and that the last LDanish. invaders embarked fromi here."

t see Engraving.

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A GUIDE TO THE GIANTS' CAUSEWAY. xi the traveller must next direct his attention; and as many persons, in their anxiety to reach the Causeway, are in- dtuced to pay but little attention to this part of the coast, it may be well here to mention, that the basaltic area of the Causeway shore may be considered as extending from Ballycastle to Solomon's Porch at Magilligan-tha:t portion of it denominated, par excellence, the Causeway, ,ling& between Portrush and the western point of Bengore- head; and whilst it must be admitted that there is much of beauty and sublimity in the various ports and prornon- toiries in that division of the coast, as well as in the pillar- ed pavemen-t of the Causeway itself, still we incline to think, that although not

frequentl3y visited, nor much

kiNown to strang'ers,

the precipitous facade from Bally- castle to Ballintoy, will be considered by many to be fully as beautiful, as stupendous, and as well desery- ibig of attention as any other portion of this re- markable place. Here we have to observe, that thlee of the most magnificent and extraordinary objects ini this range of scenery-Fairhead, Carric-a-rede, and ]3Ingor~, can o0ill be seen to advantage

from, the water.

Tlie tourist may, indeed, get side-long glimpses of them fr&m various points of land along the edge of the

cliffs; tbiA to see them all in their beauty and sublimity, in all thleir grandeur and variety, they must be viewed from the

fwuter, and at a little distance. .For this purpose, boats mav be readilyi proiured at Ballyecastle. From this point,! d'o, tihe: island of T athlin, about eight miles distant, and dinectly opposite, may be visited.

"The promontory of Fairhead rises perpendicularly to tlie height of 6.31feet above the level of the sea. On ap- proaching ng its smnnmit the tourist will perceive two small lakes, Lough Dhu and' Lough na Cranagh-and, near to itsc hiwhest point, a curious cave, said to have been a Piet's house. The view fror- this headland is of a most en- cha nting description-to the west, the whole line of finely vanrie'ated limestone and basaltic coast, as far as Bengore H1eaad; the beautiful promontory of Kenbaan or White- hediid imajestically presenting its snow-white front to the foaming ocean-the swinging-bridge and bay of Carric- a.rede -beyond this, Sheep Island-and directly in front, the island of lRagnhery; andto to the east, the Scottish coast, &c. as already described.

The promontory of l airhead is formed of a number of basaltic colossal pillars, many of them of a much larger size than any to be seen at the Causeway-in some in- stances exceetdin two hundred feet in length, and five in breadth, one of them forming a quadrangular prism, thirtyv- tlhree feet by thirty-s"ix on tihe sides, and of the gigantic altitude we have just mentioned. It is said to be the largest basaltic pillar yet discovered upon the face of our

globe-exceeding in diameter the pedestal that supports

the statue of Peter the Great, at: Petershurgh, and consi- derably surpassing in length the shaft of Pompey's Pillar, at, Alexandria. At. the foot of this magnificent colon- nade is seenan. immense mass of rock, similarly formed, lihke a wide ,waste of:natural ruins, Which are by some'sup- posed to have been, in the course of successive ages, tumbled down from their original foundation, by stornms, or somre more violent operation of nature-these massive bo, dies have sometimes withstood the shock of their fall, and often lie in groups and clumps of pillars, resembling many oftheivarieties of artificial ruins, and forming a. very no- ve. ani striking landscape-the deep waters. of the sea rohling at their base with a Lull and heavy swell.

.THIE. nun rAS'S PATET.

The guide will now condudt the traveller to a deep and awful chasm, called " The Grey. 1Mans Path," which di- vides this extraordinary headland ito two parts, and:pre- seuts a passage by which lie minay descend:to the foot of the promontory; and take a nearer view of the astonishing" ani magnificent spectacle we havejust described. The chism 'at the entrance to the pathway is narrow, and pre- sents a kind of natural door-w'ay, in consequence ofa mas- siFe pillar having fallen across it, and which is supported

in,-a frightfrl1 manner, at a considerable elevation, by the

yocks on either side. As the tourist descends, he will per- ceive that the chasm widens gradually, and the scene be-

comes much more interesting-a beautiful arrangement of pillars in various degrees of elevation is now appar-ent; the solid walls of rude and threatening columns increasing in height, regularity, and magnificence, until, at the foot of the precipice, they attain to a perpendicular elevation of 220 feet-the mighty mass upon which the promontory itself is based, and which is peculiarly characterised by savage wildness, being rendered the more imposing fronx the violence with which the ocean rages around it.

FORMATION OF BASALT, &C., &C.

IWith respect to the formation of the basalts along the Causeway coast, as well as of basalts in general, various and opposing opinions have been entertained by some of the most scientific men ; one party maintaniing they were formed by the action of water, and another as strenuously contending that they owe their origin to fire, and are sim- ply the formations of boiling lava, which at a remote pe- riod had issued from the crater of some volcano, nowt ex- tinct.

It would appear, however, from various experiments made, and from the most authentic evidence, that they are indebted- alike to fire and water for their formation-as, in every instance where columnar trap has been moulded into forms of beauty or regularity, such as the basalts of the Causeway have assumed, it has been either situated contiguous to the ocean, or completely insulated by it.- In the immediate neighbourhood of this coast, there is an interesting and beautiful variety of fossils :-Some fine crystals have been found in Knocklead; and the shore presents specimens of chalcedony, zeolites, belemnites, and dendrites, on which representations of several marine plants are pourtrayed with wonderful precision of figure, and some fine pebbles, tinged with various hues, which will take a high polish. Masses of mica are -found in the interior-as are also detached portions of gneiss and gra- nite. Stalactites are found in the rocks near Kenbane ; and tufa is discovered along the borders of several rills that trickle thro'ugh beds of limestone.

Should the thurist determine on -viewing the coastfrom the water, as far as Ballintoy or Bengore, the carriages or other travelling vehicles may be sent on to. Bushmills, as there is nothing particularly worthy of observation along the line of road from Ballycastle to that 'place.- Procuring a boat at the latter place, it xill be 'necessary, as the tide runs with great rapidity from Fairhead out- side Sheep Island to Bengore, to take advantage of the flcod-tide, and to keep close along the coast, in the direc- tion of Kenbane or Whitehead, a beautiful promontorsy three miles and a half from Ballycastle, very lofty, com- posed of limestone as white as snow, and forminga nar- row peninsula which runs a considerable way into, thIsea at right angles. Passing this point, the precipice rises to a great height, and a scene of mnuch beauty meets t e eye -the curious promontfory and swinging-bridge'of: Crric- a-rede terminating a facade i mile in length, the greater part

of wich .rises. 60 feet above the level of th~ ~ea, thte entire beaptifuBlly diversified in its formationVthe pure white limestone being mixed, in regular strata, with

.ed- dish oehre- and brownish basalt, and in its ter ~iaon finely shaded, by the dark and heavy rocks by sel the immediate vicinity of Carrie-a-rede is so stui dis- tinguished. '

Several natural caves are observed hollowed out of the rocks along this line of coast. At the foot of a precipice 280 feet high, and which, overhlanging its bse, forms a magnificent concave, a cavern presents itself, that inay readily be entered by' aboat, if the, water be sMoth. It is thirty-six feet in height, and about seventeineet wide at the entrance--- the sides, which are niot ptefTdi- cular, but lincning iinwards, being composed of' 1 atly formed pillars, their heads being, as it were artiflciallyI;s- tened into the rocks above the n-and it will be se&that the roof and bottom of the cave: re of a construo.ion somewhat'imila to the plane of the Causeway-the ime variety bof formation, nicety

of.fitting, and distincetnrie of

articulation, being displayed, and the entire

awakening a mingled sensation of pleasure anid am4 zementt in the be. holder,

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lii A GUIDE TO THE GIANTS' CAUSFWAY.

CAiRIC-A-REDUE.

TtIi~NLiAS ~UAL~.

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A GUIDE TO THE GIANTS;' CAUSEWAY. di:i

PGEAsIjIN, NEAR T'i I CIANTS' CAUSEWAY, COUNTY OF ANTRIM.

(;.IAkdiEN bA)QJi~N.

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xlv A GUIDE TO THE GIANTS' CAUR.EWAY.

SWINOING-P,.IDGE OF CARRTC-A-REDE,

Having explored this curious cavern, the dimensions of which are continued for a considerable way in, the object which next attracts attention is the swinging-bridge and island of Carrie-a-rede.* Thle head-land, which proiqets a considerable way into the sea, and on

tlheextreiity of

which there is a small cottage, built for a fishing station, is divided by a tremendous enlous rent or chasm, supposed to

have been cauised by some extraordinary convulsion of nature. The chasm is sixty feet wide, the rock oil either side rising about eighty feet above the level of the water. Across this mighty rent a bridge of ropes has been thrown, for the convenience of the fishermen who reside on the is- land during the sumtmer months. The constraction of this bridge is very simple :-Two strong ropes or cables are stretched'fronm one chasi to another, in as parallel line, and made fast to rings fixed permaneatly ii thIe rock; across these, planks, twelve intches wide, are laid and se- cured; a slightrope, elevated convenient to the hand, rulls parallel with the footway ,; and thus a bridge is formed, over which men, women, and boys, many of them carrying heavy burdens, are seen walking or running, appDarently with as little concern as they would evince in advanchig the same distance on terr a firma. It is fawful in the ex- treme to witness from a boat on the water, persons pass- ing and repassing at this giddy height-awl a feeling of anxiety, closely allied to pain, is invariably experienced by those who contemplate the apparently imminent dan-

ger to which poor people are exposed, while tlms lightly

treading the dangerous and narrow footway Which con- ducts them across the guiph that yawns beneatlh their feet.

Passing under the bridge, right through the chasm, in whiich the water will be foundt much smoother, and the tide less rapid, than at the outer side of the island, the tour- ist may proceed along the coast, through the strait which separates Sheep Island from the main land, as far as Dunseverick -or, if the weather will permit, proceeding to Bengore-head, of which there is ansublime view froum the water, and from vlwhicih point there is a splendid pano- ramic prospect of thle entire line of coast on the western side of this great head-land, including Dunluce Castle and the several promontorics and capes of which the Causeway is composed.

THE ISLAND OF RATHLIN OR fAGIIER.Y. The island of Rathlin or Raghery, lies about seven

miles and a half from the shore, is rather more than six miles in length, and one in breadth, measuring two thou- sand plantation acres, and containining about eleven hun- dred inhabitants, who are almost all occupied in agricul- tibral pursuits, and the making of kelp from the sea weed found on the rocks of which the island is composed. The people are simple, laborious, and honest, and possess a degree of affection for the island, that may very muclr sur- prise a stranger. In conversation, they always talk of Ireland as a foreign kingdom, and really have scarcely any intercourse with it, except in the way of their little trade. Small as this spot is, one can nevertheless trace two different characters among its inhabitants. The Ken- ramer, or western end, is craggy and nimountainous, the land in the valleys is rich atid well cultivated, but the coast destitute of harbours. A single native is here known to fix his rope to a stake driven into the summit of a precipice, and from thence, alone, and unassisted, to swing down the face of a rock in quest of the nests of sea-fowl, From hence, activity, bodily strength, and self dependence, are eminent among the Kenramer men.- WVnt of intercourse with strangers has )preserved many pechliarities, and their native Irish still continues to be the universal language. The Ushet end, on the contrary, is barren in its soil, but more open, and well s-pplied with liitle harbours ; hence, its inhabitants are become fisliermen, and are accustomed to make short voyages and to barter. Intercourse with strangers has rubbed off many of their peculiarities, and the English tongue is wiell un- derstood, and generally spoken by them. Near Ushet is alake of fresh water, upwards ofa mnilein circumference- on, hundred and forty four feet above the level of the sea,

The-re is also another lak in tllhe opposite end of the is land, called Cligan, two hundred and thirty-ei-ht feet

above the level of the sea. The highest

hill is called Ken Trutan, it is four hunldred and Ibrlty four feet hilgh. Near Ushet is Doon Point, remarkk-ble for its resemblance to the CausewIay;its pillars have commonly five, six, or seven sides.

CAVE OF OUrTCOON.

Although to those who may have kept close to the shore by Dunseverick Castle, there would lie rather a saving of tirte in at once proceeding to view the omagniti- cent scenery from the sunmmit of the cliffs, and afterwards descending to the Causeway from the Riock-heads, by the Stookans, we would rather advise that the course usucally pursued shoiuld be taken-thatthe cave of Portcoon be visited, the i"'eat mole of the Causeway next examiniid, and then ascending the mountain steep by a path which winds around Port Noffer, the numerous capes and pro- montories which form the back ground of the Causeway, may be leisurely evaIninei from the edge of the cliffs.

Following the guide, with cautious steps, round a pro-

jecting point ofrock, the cave of Portcoon will now be entered by the laind side. It is acavern of very consi- derable dimensions, hollowed out of the solid-rock, and assuming in its shape something of the form of a pointed arch. Into this the sea rushes, even in the calnest xvea- ther, with a bold and boisterous swell ; but when the sea is agitated by a stormn, the tremendous roaring of the wa- ters, as they break into the entrance, is terrific in the frex- treme. The sides and roof ate formed, or at least coated, with a number o' stoncs of various shapes and sizes,partly roundeod c'- a.s if by tihe action of the waves, and em-

bIdeded ini a kiid of basaltic paste or cement. The echo I proiluctl 1l h l the beating of tle billows, as they enter tile cavern, is very great, while the reverberations succeeedin- thle report of a pistol, generally fired off by the guide, are of t very extraordiniary description, intuch resemblin- the rolling of seveCral peals ofthumnler near at hand. When StIfe day is fine, thIe scene presenited here is peculiarly granid and interesting ; tIle irregnular basaltic side-italls with thIe clark shalding of the. deepelcr rccesses of the ca- veirn, uipon which the foam-crested wave spends its last dyi-bi inurrotirings, forming" a fine cointrast to the fresh- LIess (and brilliancy observable outside.

THE CAUSEW&Y.

Having regained tihe lock--hcads, at a little distance to tle right, tle icui

will point i.tut the path which cotlducts to ttie Causewa; , iand which was eut at vcery considerible expense by the Earl of Bristol, Iishop of Derry. From the little hills, popularly dIonomimnated the Stoolkans, the first view of the Causeway is obtdned ; and a more sub- lime, imposing, and beautifui scene could not by any pos- sibility be iniagined by the most enthusiastic miind, thanm that which bursts on the sight-an imnunnse and magnifi- cent bay, indented by a inutmber of capes and headlands, which rise around from a height of three hundred and fifty to four hundred feet above the level of the sea, presenting at all points a variety of the most magnificent and inter- esting viecws-as if nature and art had united their ener- gies to form one truly graitd and splendid picture. Here a beantiful colomuade of the most perfectly formed massivr pillars, finely relieved by the dark basaltic cliff into which they appear inserted, or as standiing out in bold and pro- uminent relief ; this againsucceeded by numerous distinct groups and ranges in the columnar form, assumin g a varie- ty of shapes and sizes; in another direction the dark sided of the mighty cliff rising up like the walls of some vast edifice, here and there broken down ; while, at their base, appears the ponderous wreck of numerous rocks

.aid columnns, flung from their original position, and lying in %ild disorder-the entire scene fdrcing upon the beholder the idea that he is contemplating the remains of some mighty fabric, hurled into desolation by a tremenidous earthquake, or some other equally terrible convulsion of nature. But It is not the immensity or the grandeur of the scene which will alone fix the attention here ; the eye now turns to an object equally interesting, and even more

Se Engraving.

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A GUIDE TO TIHE GIANITS' CAUSE WVAY. Xy'

curious than any which has vet been surveyed. From the base of this stupendou facade, a nmole or quay, some hundrod feet wide, of exquisitelyshaped pillars, is observed to project, gradually diminishing from a height of two hun- dred feet, until, at a distance of six hundred feet, it is lost in the sea. This platform or Mrole niay be described as forming one immense inclined plane, divided into three compartments by two of those great whindykes to which we have before alluded, as sloping gradually dow4 froni the base of the headland, and running into the sea between Port-na-Gange and Port Noffer, to an extent which has never yetbeen ascertained. The divisions are distinguish- ed by the names of the Grand Causeway, the Middle Causeway, and the Little Causeway ; the first mentioned extending sir hundred feet at low water, while the last does not exceed four hundred feet-the entire composed of a number of pillars of different shapes, and varying from fifteen to twenty-six inches in diameter, sunk in the eadrth or the surrounding rock, and standing nearly. per- pendicular-those nearest the cliff having a slight inclina- tion to the west, while those closer to the sea take a con- trary direction; their perfectly denuded heads presenting a beautiful polygonal pavement, somewhat resembling a honey-comb or wasp's nest, over which the traveller treads with security; for although each isli itself a perfect pillar, they are all so completely fitted together, and so nicely joined, that the water which falls upon thefi will not pe- netrate between them. They are irregular prisms,

a.nd display the greatest variety of figure, being septagonal, pentagonal, aind hexagonal ; a few having eight sides, and some others fofir; three have been discovered with nine sides, while only one has yet been found with but three. Scarcely any onie of th&m will be found to be equilateral, to have sides aid angles of the same dimensions, or to cor- respond exactly in formfor size with one another; while, at the same time, the sum of all the angles of any one of them will be fon6di to be equal to four right angles-the sides of one., cdrresponding exactly to those of the others which I11 ietxt to it, although otherwise differing completely ii sze andi form.

In the entire Causeway it is compute6 there are from thirty to forty thousand pillars-the tallest measuring about thirty-three feet. On the eastern side a pillar will be pointed out with thirty-eight joints, and it is said that two others have been brokein off.

The guide will now direct the attention of tihe traveller to matters of minor curiosity ;-the Giant's Well, a tintv spring of pure fresh water,

forcing" its way up betw.eeni tIhe

joints of two of the columns-his Chair, Bag-pipes, and various other little et cateras belonging to the renowned hero of the Causeway. Turning from these to still morer magnificent objects, the eye will naturally rest upon the Giant's Theatre and the Giant's Organ, the latter a beau- tiful colonnade of pillars; one hundred and twenty feet long-so called from the resemblance it bears to the pipes of an organ. Opposite* to these is the Giant's Loom ; while a

oittle further to the east, several isolated columns

are seen standing apart from the rest, which are popularly called the Chimney-tops, from the likeness they bear at a distance to the chimneys of a castle. The extraordinary stratified construction of the cliff all around will, no doubt, also fix the attention of every.curious observer,

The tourist having examined every object of inter6st which can be viewed from the foot of the great cliff or promontory, the guide will next point to a steep and nar- row path that leads up the nearly perpendicular acclivity which forms the back-ground of Port Noffer.

ANECDOTES OF PERSONS FALLING FRONI '-E CLIFFS. The guides relate several interesting stories of indivi-

duals, who fell from the heights in this neighbourhood.- From the Aird Snout, a man named J. Kane tumbled down while engaged in searching for fossil-coal, during a severe winter-and, strange to say, was'taken up alive, although seriously injured by the fall. Another man, named Adam Morning, when descending a giddy path that leads to the foot of Port-na-Spania, with his wife's breakfast, who was at the time employed in making kelp, missed his footing, and tumbling headlong, was dtasid tok atoms ere hreached the bottom,. The poor woman wit-

nessed the' nmlfortune from a distance; but supposing, from tihe kind of coat lie wore,: that it had been one of the sheep that had been

g'razing on the headland, she

went to examine it, when she found instead, the man- gled corpse of her husband. Another story is told of a poor girl, who, being betrothed to one she loved, in order to furnish herself and her intended husband with some of the little comforts of life, procured employment on the shore, in the manufacture alluded to, with some other persons in the neighbourhood. Port-na- Spania, as will be observed, is completely surrounded by a tremendous precipice, from three to four hundred feet high, and is only accessible by a narrow pathway, by far the most dif- ficult and dangerous of any of those nearly perpendicu- lar ascents to be met with along the entire coast.- Up this frightful footway was this poor girl, in common with all who were engaged in the same manufacture, obliged to climb, heavily laden with a burden of the kelp ; and having gained the steepest point of the peak, was just about to place her foot on the summit, when, in con- sequence of the load on her shoulders shifting a little to one side, she lost her balance, fell backwards, and ere she reached the bottom, was a lifeless and a mangled corpse. To behold women and children toiling up this dreadfil ascent, bearing heavy loads, either on their heads or fastened from their necks and shoulders, is really painfhl, even to the least sensit-ive, unaccustomed to the sight-and yet the natives themselves appear to think no- thing whatever of it.

An anecdote is also related of a man who was in the habit of seating himself on the edge of a clifftwhich over- hung its base, at Poortmoor, to enjoy the beauty of the widely extended scene. One fine snmmer morning, how- ever, having gained the height, and taken ihis accustomed seat, while indulging in the thoughts and feelings which we may suppose the scene and situation likely to inspire, "a change came o'er the spirit of his dream,"-the rock upon which he was perched gave way, and,

.in the twink-

linig of an eve, bore him on "its rapid *wig" to the foot of a precipice, where it sunk several feet into the earth-- safely depositing its ambitious bestrider oti the shore, at a distance of fully four hundred feet ferom the towering emi- nence off which he htad made his involuintary rialdescent,

PLEASKIN.

Towards the head-land of BengoTe, the tourist may now proceed, following the windigs of the cliffs, and exa- m ining hi succession tLie various capes and bays into which the great promontory is. broken. While the appearance of this entire line, fra-om Port Nof'er to Bemigore-head, must be admitted to be grand in the extreme, the promon- tory of Pleaskin will be fbund more particularly deserving of minute attention. It is a continuation of the headland of Bengec; and is beyond doubt the prettiest thing iin nature, in the way of a promonitory. It appears as though it had been painted for effect, in various shades of green, vermillion rock, red ochre, grey lichens, &c.-its general form so beautifuil-its storied pillars, tier over tier, so ar- chitecturally

. gracefit--its curious and varied stratifica- tions supporting the columnar ranges-here the dark, brown amorphous bas there the red

ochre, and below

thlat again the slendeF .distinct lines of wood-coal-all the edges of its dilfereit stratifications tastefully varied by the hand of

veg'etable iiatur with grasses aid ferns,

and rock-plants ;-in the vaIn strata of whiclhit -is.

com- posed, sublimity and beauty hliving been bleaded toge. ther in the most extraordinary nianner.

ENGOltE aHEAD. Bengore, or the Goat's Promontory, wicehrisesthree hundred and thirty feet above the water, is the extreme

headland ; but there is nothing in the scenery by which it is surrounded particilarly worthy of observation, with the exception of a curious stratum oif

fossil-coal,. which is

found lving hbetween two ranaes of basaltic pillars--and the exceedinmgly fine view which 'meets the eye froam its sumniit in the direction of Fairhead, Rathlin. &c.

DUNLUCE CASTLE.

,Having viewed, every thing worthy of notice in the 'immediate direction of the Causeway. the

travellera may

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xGi A GUIDE TO THE GIANTS' CAUStEWAY. proceed towards Duniuce Castle, on his route to Cole- rain.e The Castle, which our readers will find die- scribed in a former ntmnber of our Journal, is

.one of the

finest ruiqs to-ba met with in Irelanid, atnd possesses very considerable interest, as hating been, connected with se- veral important events in tihe history of the country.

THE GREY MAN'S PATH.

S,* From our limited space the directions and descrip- tions we have given of this interesting line of coast have

necessarily been very concise ; we would, therefore, refer the

traveller who may wish for further

informati.on,

to " The

Northern Tourist," published by Messrs. Curry, and Co. and

from which (although the copyright is now altogether their

own,) they have kindly permitted us to make such extracts as suited our purpose. " The Guide to the Causeway," which they have just published, we would particularly recom-

mend to the notice of persons travelling in the nortit of Ire-

land, as aflbrding a correct picture of that extraordinary work of nature. Having now conducted the reader along the

most interesting portions of the Antrim coast, pointing out

in our way whateverwe considered might interest or amuse, we

take our leave, in the hope of again meeting him in the

course of the enIsuing year, in some other interesting por- tions of our country heretofore undescribed.

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